Aging into the Future: Pierce County 2020-2030

Saturday, March 23, 2019

Aging into the Future: Pierce County 2020-2030 will inform, challenge and inspire the audience to look toward how we can prepare Pierce County (government, businesses, non-profits, faith communities, etc.) for a future when a many more of our residents will be older adults and a growing percentage of people will be living with disabilities at home. We will use the PechaKucha format of fast-paced presentations followed by instantaneous electronic audience polling that will help us craft a vision. A variety of exhibitors will be present to share information about what exists currently and what the future might foreshadow. Attendees invited to bring a donation of non-perishable food for Nourish Pierce County food banks.

Conference Looks at Pierce County 2020-2030

By 2030 Pierce County will look substantially different than it does today – especially for older adults and individuals with disabilities. How we embrace the future and plan for it will dictate whether the future guides us or we guide the future.

“Aging into the Future: Pierce County 2020-2030” is a community conversation about what we will look for in the coming decade and how we can plan now to make the best use of emerging services, demographics, technologies and resources. The conference is intended for seniors, individuals with disabilities, caregivers, families, service providers and community members.

“It’s often said the best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago,” said Aaron Van Valkenburg, manager of Pierce County Aging and Disability Resources. “Nobody knows the future, but we can and should prepare for it. Now is the time for seniors, people with disabilities, caregivers, family members, friends and providers throughout the county to start thinking about how to make Pierce County a community to age in place safely, independently and affordably.”

The four-hour conference will feature special presentations on eight crucial topics: Aging in Place, Housing, Transportation, Long Term Health Care, Personal Wellness, Legislative, Threats to Independence, and Financial Security. “Aging into the Future” will make use of the PechaKucha format in which presenters use twenty slides, each for twenty seconds, to illustrate their vision. Each presentation will then be followed by surveys of audience members using an instantaneous electronic voting system. Participants will also be able to respond with written feedback, suggestions and recommendations.

In the coming decade, a larger percentage of county residents will be over the age of 60. A rapidly growing number of people will also be living with physical, cognitive, developmental and intellectual disabilities. The vast majority of these individuals will want to live independently at home with appropriate supports while effectively managing their disabilities, chronic conditions, cognitive and physical changes and other needs. Pressures will grow for many families as education, employment, life-style, housing and other competing demands fragment traditional family support systems while the number of paid providers of in-home care will continue to shrink.

“Aging into the Future: Pierce County 2020-2030” will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 pm. on Saturday, March 23 at the McGavick Conference Center at Clover Park Technical College, 4500 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Building 23 in Lakewood. Doors open at 8:00 a.m. Information, free tickets and reasonable accommodation requests are available online at www.PierceCountyWA.gov/Future or by calling the Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) at 253-798-4600. Refreshments will be provided. Attendees are invited to bring non-perishable food donations for the Nourish Pierce County food banks.

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